SOURCE SAYS OILERS PARTIES SQUABBLING OVER EXPANSION MONEY

A "three-way scrap over who should pocket" the NHL
Oilers' "slice of NHL expansion pie has become the main
stumbling block in hammering out a sale," a "key" source
tells Bernard Pilon of the EDMONTON SUN. Existing Oilers
Owner Peter Pocklington feels the $12.3M expansion payout is
his "because he voted to let the league expand." But
Alberta Treasury Branches, which is now effectively running
the team, feels it should get the money. And potential
local Oilers buyers want the money "because they'll be
running things once cheques are issued." NHL Commissioner
Gary Bettman offered to split the payout between the groups,
but no agreement has been reached (EDMONTON SUN, 2/2).